The January transfer window may have only just ended, but that hasn’t stopped discussion already moving towards what will happen in the summer.
One of the biggest narratives in the coming months is bound to be the future of Dayot Upamecano. The French centre-back’s release clause comes into effect at the end of the season, and as you can imagine, a number of clubs are circling him.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Liverpool have eyed up a player from RB Leipzig with a release clause.
Indeed, last year Timo Werner was strongly linked with a move to Anfield, but as we all know, Chelsea pipped them to the signing.
Regardless of how Werner’s time in the Premier League has worked out so far, losing out on him to Chelsea was a blow, and they are facing a similar situation with Upamecano this summer.
Indeed, it has been reported that three teams remain in the race for Upamecano, and ironically, once again, Chelsea and Liverpool are two of those.
It’s almost uncanny the similarities between this and the Werner saga, the same clubs are involved for a talented young player with a low release clause, but this time, Liverpool can’t afford to lose out.
We’ve seen this season how important it is for Liverpool to have an abundance of quality at centre-half amid their ongoing injury problems, and Upamecano looks like the ultimate solution to their woes there, and at a great price.
He’s a fantastic young player who would not only add depth but would challenge for a place in the starting XI, and while Liverpool can take solace in the fact that Werner hasn’t taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, it seems unlikely that the same will happen with Upamecano, such is his quality.
Michael Edwards may be presented with another Timo Werner situation this summer, but he needs to make sure this one has a different end result.
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